Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Munising, Michigan 49862
Friday, March 13, 1992 20:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD IN EXCESS OF 32 OUNCES OF WATER DRAINED FROM THE WING TANKS AND CARBURETOR/FUEL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT'S MECHANIC AND THE PILOT IN PREPARATION FOR A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE MECHANIC REPORTED HE DRAINED AND FLUSHED THE SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PILOT SAID HE REFUELED THE AIRPLANE WITH 88 GALLONS OF FRESH AV GAS AND WAITED 10-15 MINUTES PRIOR TO CHECKING THE WING AND BELLY SUMPS FOR WATER. HE FOUND NO WATER AND BEGAN HIS FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS LATER HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN TREES FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR AND FUEL SYSTEM POST ACCIDENT REVEALED SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES OF WATER. THE FUEL TANK FROM WHICH THE AIRPLANE WAS REFUELED PRIOR TO FLIGHT WAS FOUND FREE OF SIGNIFICANT CONTAMINATES. WHEN FRESH,UNCONTAMINATED FUEL WAS FED TO THE ENGINE, IT STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION TO REMOVE WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/13/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2020
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MUNISING
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49862
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2203
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46975
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N96381
NTSB Number CHI92LA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182Q
Aircraft Series Identifier 182Q
Aircraft Serial Number 18266704
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 12 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 65
Airframe Hours 717
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name OLSZEWSKI, JOHN N.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11506 MASONIC
Aircraft Owner City WARREN
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48093
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OLSZEWSKI, JOHN N.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 11506 MASONIC
Operator City WARREN
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48093
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DET
Departure City DETROIT CITY
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CMX
Destination City HOUGHTON
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --